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THE 

UNITED STATES FLAG 



Its History, Symbolism „ 
and Regulations for Display 



By PHILIP ROBERT DILLON 




Published by 

THE AMERICAN PENMAN 
30 Irving Place, New York, N. Y. 



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CK 113 



Copyright, 1917 
By The A. N. Palmer Co. 



SEP -4 1917 
©CI.A473321 
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History of the United States Flag 



^HEN Columbus landed upon the Island of San 
Salvador on October 12, 1492, he bore a staff 
from which aloft streamed the flag of Spain. 
At that time the Spanish flag was rectangular, 
as at present, the field composed of four equal 
sections, two red and two white, set alternately. 
Upon each red section was a yellow castle, and upon each white 
section was a red lion rampant. 

But the present American flag is descended from the English 
flag, which was first shown on this continent by John Cabot, in 
the service of England, who landed in Newfoundland in the year 
1497, according to the probable report of his expedition. This 
English flag was what is known as St. George's Cross, a rectangu- 
lar red cross upon a white field ; it was a very old flag, adopted at 
the time of the first Crusade, about the year 1096 A. D., when all 
Christian nations adopted the Cross as their standard. The 
Cross of St. Andrew, the Scotch ensign, a diagonal white cross or 
saltire upon a blue field, was also adopted in those early days. 

First Flag of American Colonies 
When James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 
1603, and the two kingdoms were united, the king caused a new 
" union " flag to be made, a blue flag with both St. George's Cross 
and St. Andrew's Cross on it. This flag was called " The King's 
Colors," and was the first English flag raised in the American 
colonies. Still the New Englaiid colonies for a hundred years 
clung to the old cross of St. George. In 1686 these colonies 
formed a union and adopted as the " New England Colors " the 
white flag with red cross, in the center of the cross the monogram 
of King James II — " J. R." standing for " Jacobus Rex." 

But the early Puritans did not like the cross upon the flag. 
In 1635 John Winthrop, the colonial governor of Massachusetts, 
a bitter opponent of everything that savored of Roman Cathol- 

1 



icism, ordered the red cross to be cut out of the military flags, 
saying that it was " idolatrous." However, the King's agents 
soon made the governor restore the cross to the flag. 

In 1707, when the complete union of England, Scotland and 
Wales was established, Great Britain adopted the " Meteor flag," 
a red ensign with the old " King's Colors " in the canton — the 
canton being top quarter next the staff. It quickly became the 
common custom to call that section of the flag containing the 
crosses "the jack," and the "union jack"; the word "jack" 
was probably a shortening of the name of King James — " Jaco- 
bus " in Latin. This idea of the " union " or " jack " was carried 
into the later American flag, and the section containing the stars 
is colloquially called " the Jack " in the United States, though 
few Americans stop to think that the word is a perpetuation of 
the name of King James who established " The King's Colors " 
three hundred years ago. 

Each Colony Adopted Its Own Flag 

The red ensign with the red, white and blue " union " was 
the regular official flag of the English colonies in America up 
to the beginning of the Revolution. But, about the year 1700, 
several colonies began to show flags distinguishing their ships 
from those of England, and from those of their American neigh- 
bors. A favorite device of the New England colonists was the 
" pine tree." One early New England ensign was a red flag with 
the St. George's cross in the canton, and a green pine tree in the 
first quarter of the canton. Another and very popular pine tree 
flag was white, with the green pine tree in the center and over it 
the motto, " An Appeal to Heaven." In April, 1776, the colony 
of Massachusetts formally prescribed this flag for its warships, 
and thus it was the first distinctively American naval flag. The 
tree was probably the " Goodly Cedar " referred to in the Scrip- 
tures, which was an emblem of " God's Chosen People." 

New York's flag was white with a black beaver in the center. 

South Carolina originated the " rattlesnake flag," a yellow 
field with a coiled black and white snake in the center, and under 
it the motto " Don't tread on me." This flag was popular in all 
the colonies, and especially with ship captains in the years follow- 
ing the Stamp Act of 1765. 

2 



In the battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill there 
was no regular American flag at all, but each regiment or company 
of minute men had its own flag, designed to suit the particular 
neighborhood from which the regiment or company came. The 
lack of one flag for all was greatly felt at the battle of Bunker 
Hill, so, three days after the battle, General Putnam raised on 
Prospect Hill, across the Charles River from Boston, a red flag 
with the motto in gold color, " Appeal to Heaven " on one side, 
and " Qui Transtulit Sustinet " (the motto of Connecticut, mean- 
ing " He Who Has Transplanted Still Sustains ") on the other, 
and this was actually the first official flag of the American Army. 

It is true that there was nothing in these early English or 
colonial flags to suggest the stars and stripes. It used to be 
generally believed — though without much evidence, that the idea 
of stars and stripes came from Washington's coat of arms which 
had three red stars and two red bands on the silver field of the 
shield. But the English East India Company, early in the 
eighteenth century, flew from the foremast of their ships a " house 
flag " with thirteen red and white stripes, and the St. George's 
Cross in the canton. Also the orange standard of the Philadel- 
phia Lighthouse Troop organized in 1774 had a small canton 
with thirteen blue and silver stripes. When Washington left 
Philadelphia on June 23, 1775, to take command of the Army be- 
fore Boston, he was escorted by this troop with this standard in 
front. 

The " Cambridge Flag " First Ensign of the United Colonies 

On January 2, 1776, Washington raised at Cambridge, Mass., 
the first flag emblematic of the union of the colonies. It had 
seven red and six white stripes, and in the canton were the crosses 
of St. George and St. Andrew on a blue field. It was called the 
" Grand Union Flag " ; it is now generally known as the " Cam- 
bridge Flag." It continued as the official Army flag of the Rev- 
olution until Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes, but much 
latitude was allowed the different regiments and commands, and 
many different flags were still used. The little American Navy 
at the beginning, which started the patriotic rivalry with the 
Army that has been kept up in both services and has come down 
to our times, insisted on a distinctive flag for the ships, so 

3 



" Admiral " Hopkins made his own ensign, using the thirteen 
red and white stripes, no canton, and an extended rattlesnake 
diagonally across the entire flag. 

The Legend of Betsy Ross and the Stars and Stripes 

At the beginning of the Revolution there lived in Philadelphia 
a young widow named Elizabeth Ross, who kept an uphostery 
shop in Arch street ; she had a large circle of friends in the city, 
and the family of her deceased husband, John Ross, w r as among 
the socially prominent. She was called "Betsy" Ross by her 
friends. The legend of the making of the stars and stripes comes 
almost entirely from what she related, by word of mouth, to mem- 
bers of her own and her husband's family; her descendants re- 
peated the story with every evidence of sincerity, several making 
affidavits. According to this story, a committee consisting of 
Gen. George Washington, Robert Morris and Colonel Ross — the 
last named being an uncle of Mrs. Ross, visited her shop in June, 
1776, and asked if she could make a flag. She said she could, 
and thereupon they showed her a rough design of an ensign like 
the Cambridge flag, except that the canton had thirteen stars 
instead of the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew. The stars 
were six-pointed and were scattered rather irregularly over the 
blue field. 

Mrs. Ross, so it is told, suggested that the stars should be five 
pointed, as they would look better than the six-pointed. General 
Washington agreed, but said that he thought five-pointed stars 
were harder to make; whereupon Mrs. Ross took her scissors 
and a piece of cloth and cut a five-pointed star with one single 
clip of the scissors, doing it so easily and prettily that he was 
instantly convinced, and then and there changed the design of 
the stars to the five-pointed model. 

She also suggested that the stars would look better if arranged 
in a circle, and this suggestion was also adopted. The committee 
then went away, leaving the corrected design with Mrs. Ross, 
and she shortly afterward completed a sample flag which was 
sent to General Washington — probably at his headquarters in 
New York before the coming of the British fleet and army which 
captured the city. 

Washington and the other members of the committee ap- 

4 



AMERICAN FLAGS, COLONIAL AND NATIONAL 











Reproduced from Nelson's Encyclopedia. 



1. Red Cross flag 
of Great Britain, En- 
sign of Henry VII., 
planted on North 
American soil by Se- 
bastian Cabot in 1497. 
2. Flag of Great 
Britain, and of the 
Colonies from 1620 to 
June 14, 1777, show- 
ing the red cross of 
St. George and the 
white cross of St. 
Andrew on a blue 
field. 3. Flag formed 
by changing the color 
of the British flag to 
crimson and placing 
the two crosses in the 
upper corner, adopted 
in 1707. 4. Colonial 
modification of flag 
of 1707, one of the 
flags of Massachu- 
setts colony. 5. Pine 
Tree Flag, also of 
Massachusetts colony, 
adopted for American 
vessels in 1775. 6. 
Flag of the southern 
colonies, 1776-7. 7. 
First striped flag, 
known as the " Cam- 
bridge Flag" and in 
Great Britain as the 
"Rebellious Stripes," 
raised at Washing- 
ton's headquarters, 
Cambridge, Jan. 2, 
1776. 8. First flag of 
thirteen stars and 
stripes, adopted by 
the Continental Con- 
gress, June 14, 1777. 

9. Flag as changed in 
1794 by addition of 
two stripes and two 
stars for Vermont 
and Kentucky — flag 
of the War of 1812. 

10. Flag authorized 
by Act of Congress, 
April 4, 1818, with 
thirteen stripes and 
one star for each 

State. 



proved this flag, and recommended to Congress that it be adopted. 
But Congress did not adopt it until nearly a year after Mrs. Ross 
had sewed her sample flag. 

It has been objected by writers who do not believe the Betsy 
Ross story, that it is unsupported by evidence outside the Ross 
family and that it is improbable that Congress would wait a whole 
year to adopt a flag which was so strongly recommended by two 
such powerful men as General Washington and Robert Morris. 
However, the story has never been disproved, and it has been gen- 
erally accepted throughout the nation. Certainly some one did 
piece and sew the first Stars and Stripes flag. Betsy Ross claimed 
that she did it. No one else has claimed the honor. Therefore the 
Betsy Ross claim is good. Is not that a good syllogistic argu- 
ment? Doubtless, the romantic strain in our people seeks for 
such stories, of which kind there are too few in our authentic 
histories, and so the masses of our people will hold faith in Betsy 
Ross as the woman who pieced and sewed our first national flag. 

There is, in fact, evidence showing that the Stars and Stripes 
was flown very shortly after Betsy Ross made her sample. In 
the first place the records do show that Washington was in Phila- 
delphia from May 22 to June 5, 1776, and it was some time in this 
fortnight that Mrs. Ross received him in her shop as claimed. 
Though this flag did not become the official national ensign for 
a long time it is quite probable that it was used in Washington's 
army during that summer of 1776, at least by some regiments, 
and therefore it is quite possible that it was first flown in battle 
in one of the three battles of that summer and autumn, — Long 
Island (August 27), Harlem (September 16), or White Plains 
(October 28). 

In Emanuel Leutze's famous picture of Washington Crossing 
the Delaware, the flag with thirteen stripes and thirteen stars is 
shown, and also in the portrait of Washington about the time of 
the battles of Trenton and Princeton, painted by Charles Wilson 
Peale ; the Delaware crossing was in the early morning after 
Christmas night of 1776, and the Battle of Trenton was next 
day ; the Battle of Princeton was eight days later. These events 
occurred five and a half months before Congress formally adopted 
the flag. Artist Peale was a soldier as well as a painter and com- 
manded a company at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Mon- 

6 



mouth and Germantown. It seems probable that he would know 
whether it was the Cambridge flag or the flag of the thirteen stars 
that was near his general at the battle of Trenton. 

Adoption of the Stars and Stripes by Congress 

On June 14, 1777, John Adams, in pursuance of the report of 
a committee, introduced in the Continental Congress at Philadel- 
phia the following resolution which was passed unanimously : 

- " Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States 
shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the 
union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing 
a new constellation." 

Even after this there was delay in promulgating the action of 
Congress. The public announcement to the nation was made on 
September 3, 1777. 

Throughout the month of June, 1777, Washington's Army 
Headquarters were at Middlebrook Heights, near Bound Brook, 
New Jersey. To this place came a courier riding swift from 
Philadelphia on the evening of June 14, with news of the action of 
Congress, and next morning, according to all evidence scrupu- 
lously weighed in late years by the State of New Jersey, the new 
national flag was raised before the commander-in-chief over his 
headquarters and formally designated the new flag of the Repub- 
lic. This historic spot on Middlebrook Heights is now a shrine 
of the American people. 

The State of New York has claimed that the new flag was 
first displayed within its boundaries at Fort Stanwix — now the 
city of Rome, New York. Here was a garrison of 600 men. On 
August 2, 1777, a reinforcement of 200 Massachusetts men came 
in anticipation of an attack by a British army from the North. 
The newcomers brought the news of the adoption of the new flag, 
and at once the fort was ransacked for material to make a flag. 
According to the account it was made from a soldier's white 
shirt, a woman's red petticoat and a piece of blue cloth from the 
cloak of Captain Abraham Swartout. This flag was raised on 
August 3, 1777, upon a section of the fort facing the British 
force, commanded by Colonel St. Leger which had laid siege to 
the fort. 



The Permanent Form of the Flag 

On September 11, 1777, eight days after the promulgation by 
Congress of the act adopting the new flag, the battle of Brandy- 
wine was fought, and thus it is that this battle is recorded as the 
first in which the Stars and Stripes was the official standard of 
an army of the United States. 

In 1791 Vermont was admitted as a state, and the next year 
Kentucky was admitted, thus making fifteen states in the Union. 
On May 1, 1795, Congress, with short-sighted judgment, enacted 
a law providing that the flag " be fifteen stripes." This was the 
national ensign for twenty- three years ; it was this flag that waved 
over Ft. McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote " The Star 
Spangled Banner." 

Finally, on March 4, 1818, Congress enacted the law which 
fixes the form of the flag for all time. The act is as follows : 

An Act to Establish the Flag of the United States. 

" Sec. 1. Be it enacted," etc., " That from and after 
the fourth day of July next, the flag of the United States be 
thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; that 
the Union have twenty stars, white in a blue field. 

" Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That on the admission 
of every new State into the Union, one Star be added to the 
Union of the flag ; and that such addition shall take effect on 
the fourth of July next succeeding such admission." 

(The Act was approved by President Monroe on April 
4, 1818.) 

Origin of " Old Glory " 

The original " Old Glory " flag is believed to be in posses- 
sion of the Essex Institute at Salem, Mass. This flag was pre- 
sented to Captain William Driver, of Salem, in 1831, when he 
sailed as commander of the brig Charles Doggett to rescue the 
descendants of the mutineers of the British ship Bounty who had 
settled on Pitcairn Island in the south Pacific in 1790; he re- 
turned them to their island. Just before the brig sailed from 
Salem, the flag was hoisted and Captain Driver christened it " Old 
Glory." In 1837 he removed to Nashville, Tenn., and there he 
carried his flag, which he cherished and exhibited with pride and 

8 



tenderness. When the Union troops entered Nashville, on Febru- 
ary 25, 1862, he received permission to raise his flag over the 
State capitol. He broke it himself from the flagstaff, saying with 
tears in his eyes: " I have always said if I could see it float over 
that capitol I should have lived long enough ; now Old Glory is 
up there, gentlemen, and I am ready to die." He died in 1886, 
leaving the old flag to his niece, and she, shortly after, presented 
it to the Institute at Salem where it is now carefully preserved. 

With the admission of Arizona and New Mexico as States in 
1912 and the addition of two stars, the Flag showed forty-eight 
stars representing forty-eight States, including all the contiguous 
continental territory of the United States. 




tJRBAT SEAL Of TEE UNITED STATES. 



The Stars and Stripes the Oldest Flag of the Great 

Nations 

THE Stars and Stripes is the oldest flag among the great na- 
tions of the world. 

The British Union Jack dates from the year 1801, in which 
the union of Great Britain and Ireland was consummated and the 
Cross of St. Patrick was placed in the flag. It is sometimes 
claimed by British writers that the Union Jack dates from 1707 
when the formal union of the English and Scotch parliaments 
was consummated, and when the saltire or X cross of St. Andrew, 
representing Scotland, was laid in the flag under the Greek cross 
of St. George representing England. These writers claim that the 
introduction of the cross of St. Patrick later, in 1801, was not a 
change in the design of the flag, any more than the introductions 
of additional stars in the United States Flag wrought a change 
in the original design of that Flag. However, this British con- 
tention is obviously weak because of the simple fact that the 
original Stars and Stripes design was adopted in 1777 with the 
plain understanding that it anticipated and provided for ad- 
ditional stars to be introduced in the blue field later, and so was a 
completed design for all time. It cannot be said that the design- 
ers of the British flag of 1707 had in mind that a third cross was 
to be added at some indefinite future time. Therefore it follows 
that the introduction of the cross of St. Patrick in 1801 neces- 
sitated an important and unanticipated change in the design of 
the flag, and that the present design dates from the year 1801. 

The tri-color of France was adopted as the national ensign 
by act of the French Convention of 1791, fourteen years after the 
adoption of The Stars and Stripes. 

The German flag of red, white and black was officially adopted 
on Nov. 25, 1867, as the ensign of the North German Confedera- 
tion, which later grew to be the present German Empire. 

The flag of Austria-Hungary was adopted when the dual 
monarchy was formed in 1867. 

It is claimed that the Italian flag was adopted in 1805 after 

10 



Napoleon had himself crowned King of Italy. When Napoleon 
fell, Italy was again divided into a number of separate states, 
each with its own flag. In 1861 Victor Emanuel, king of Sardinia, 
assumed the title King of Italy. In 1871 all the separate States 
of Italy were united and the Italian flag became the ensign of the 
nation. 

The Japanese red disk on a white field has been used for at 
least 800 years as an emblem, but it was not formally adopted 
as the flag of Japan until 1859. 

The white, blue and red of the Russian Empire was adopted 
about the same time as The Stars and Stripes. It died, as a flag, 
when the Russian revolution was consummated in 1917. 

The flag of Switzerland has been traced back to the Four- 
teenth Century. But the name " Switzerland " was not given to 
the confederation until 1803, and the present nation did not come 
into existence until 1815. 

It is asserted by Danish scholars that the flag of Denmark 
was adopted in 1219, thus making it the oldest European flag. 

The present red, white and blue of the Netherlands was 
adopted as the colors of the Dutch Republic in 1643. The 
kingdom of the Netherlands was created in 1815. Belgium sepa- 
rated from it in 1830, and since then the nation has been dis- 
tinctively " Holland." 

The little republic of San Marino in Italy, has existed as an 
independent nation — or rather community, since 1631, with its 
present flag. It has a population of about 12,000. 

The so-called " republic " of Andorra, in the Pyrenees Moun- 
tains, has existed as an independent community since the year 
805. Its flag is probably the oldest in the world. It is not strict- 
ly independent, but is under the joint suzerainty of France and 
Spain. The population numbers about 6,000. 

Terminology 

THE old terms " canton," and " jack " describing the upper 
corner or quarter near the staff are officially obsolete. In 
all official references, the word " union " is used to describe the 
blue section with stars. But in the Navy the term " jack " is still 

11 



colloquially used, and in the Army it is commonly called the 
" field." 

In the Army, the Flag is called " the colors " or " the stan- 
dard." In the Navy it is called " the ensign." 

The side of the Flag next to the staff, to which the halliards 
are fastened, is called the " hoist." The side extending from the 
staff or halliards to the flying end is called the " fly." If the 
Flag be considered as a rectangle, its length will be called " fly " 
and its width " hoist." 

The blue field is a rectangle. Its smaller side extends from 
the top of the Flag to the bottom of the fourth red stripe, thus 
measuring 7/13 of the hoist. Its length is 76/100 or approxi- 
mately 10/13 of the hoist, or about 40 per cent of the entire fly 
of the Flag. 

Stationary poles for the Flag are called " flagstaffs." The 
flag pole carried by marching or riding bodies is called a " pike." 

The ensign on a warship is usually flown from a spar called 
a " gaff " which extends aft from a mast and upward at an angle 
of about 45 degrees. The after end of this gaff is called the 
" peak," and it is at this " peak " that the top of the hoist is 
fastened. 

On shipboard the Flag is " bent " to the halliards, which is the 
seaman's word for fastening. 



Sizes of Flags 

REGULATIONS of the War Department, governing the last 
change of stars in the blue field of the Flag, provided as 
follows : 

" The field or union of the national flag in use in the Army 
will consist from and after July 4, 1912, of 48 stars, in six rows, 
8 stars in each row, in a blue field." 

On Sept. 11, 1916, the War Department issued an order 
specifically fixing the material and sizes of " national " flags. 
This order provided that " The garrison, post, and storm flags 

12 



are national flags and shall be of bunting" (bunting of wool is 
meant). 

In detail, it provided that " The garrison flag will have 38 ft. 
fly and 20 ft. hoist." It is hoisted only on holidays and important 
occasions. This is the largest flag in the Army or Navy services. 

" The post flag will have 19 ft. fly and 10 ft. hoist." It is 
hoisted in pleasant weather. 

" The storm flag will have 9 ft. 6 in. fly and 5 ft. hoist." It 
is hoisted in stormy or windy weather for occupied posts. It is 
also furnished to national cemeteries to fly at all times between 
reveille and sunset. 

The order further provides : " Garrison and post flags will 
be hoisted on a flagstaff of metal or wood, 75 to 100 ft. high; the 
camp or station flag (storm flag size where the regularly pre- 
scribed staff is not available, will be hoisted on a wooden staff 
approximately 50 ft. high; the staff to be supplied with a gal- 
vanized pulley at the top and with a galvanized cleat at the bot- 
tom." 

From the above, it will be seen that the size 9 ft. 6 in. fly and 
5 ft. hoist is best adapted for civilian use, to fly in all kinds of 
weather, and from the many kinds of staffs at the tops of build- 
ings and from windows. 

Flags for infantry regiments, coast artillery corps, batal- 
lions of engineers, marines, and naval batallions are of silk usually, 
4 ft. 4 in. hoist and 5 ft. 6 in. fly; the field of blue is 30 inches 
long (fly) from the pike casing. 

Sizes of Navy Ensigns 

Formerly, the sizes of Navy ensigns differed from those of 
the Army, and the ratios of hoist to fly also differed. On Jan. 
2, 1917, the Navy Department promulgated an order standardiz- 
ing its ensigns, making the ratios the same as those of the Army. 
This order directed that all ensigns shall be of the following 
proportions : 

The fly shall be 1.9 of the hoist. 

The hoist of the union shall be 7/13 of the hoist of the flag. 

The fly of the union shall be .76 of the hoist of the flag. 

The width of each stripe shall be 1/13 of the hoist of the flag. 

13 



Following these proportions, the sizes of twelve ensigns used 
in the Navy are as follows: 

Hoist Fly 

No. 1 20 ft. 38 ft. 

" 2 19 ft. 36.1 ft. 

" 3 14.35 ft. 27.27 ft. 

4, 12.19 ft. 23.16 ft. 

" 5 10 ft. 19 ft. 

6 8.94 ft. 16.99 ft. 

" 7 5.14 ft. 9.77 ft. 

" 8 5 ft. 9.5 ft. 

" 9 3.52 ft. 6.69 ft. 

" 10 2.9 ft. 5.5 ft. 

" 11 2.37 ft. 4.5 ft. 

" 12 1.31 ft. 2.49 ft. 

No. 8 is the " storm " flag as in the Army, and also is " steam- 
ing colors." Nos. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are flown in torpedo boats 
and small boats — launches, barges, gigs, cutters, whaleboats and 
dinghys. 

All ships in a fleet, except destroyers and torpedo boats, fly 
the same size flag. This size is given each morning by signal 
from the flagship. 

Private manufacturers of flags are notoriously careless about 
the proper proportions of hoist and fly. The above list of Navy 
flags should be carefully studied by school teachers and pupils, 
and when a flag is to be repaired by them, the correct proportions 
should be rigidly kept in mind. 

Fabric Material of the Flag 

THE standard material for the ensigns in the Navy and for 
Guard Post and storm flags in the Army is wool bunting. 
The manufacturers deliver the material in bolts 19 inches wide, 
each bolt colored red, white, blue, yellow, green or black. The 
colors yellow, green and black are kept in stock in the Navy for 
making or repairing the flags of foreign nations and the Inter- 
national code flags — all of which are carried in each ship. The 
petty officer with the title Signal Quartermaster is the custodian 
of all flags on board a war ship. The ensign is kept in a locker 
in the chart room. 

14 



In the Army, the senior Sergeant of the Guard is the official 
custodian of flags. 

Keeping the Flag in Repair 

FLAGS in Army and Navy are constantly kept in repair. 
Especially is this true in the Navy, where men, for centuries, 
have been expert with the needle. Each ship has a sewing ma- 
chine on board, and many of them have an official " tailor." The 
tailor supervised by the signal quartermaster, is able to quickly 
make any flag needed. When a flag is torn or frayed out by the 
wind, it is never again hoisted until it has been repaired. This is 
true also of the Army. 

Flags that have been patched often, or are much faded by 
stormy weather, are hoisted only as storm flags. 

Flags in the Army or Navy, when torn, discolored, or other- 
wise rendered by wind, weather or accident beyond repair, are 
never allowed to be used for any " menial " purpose, nor are they 
thrown away. War ship ensigns worn beyond repair are carefully 
preserved in dry lockers. 

Flags rent and torn in battle are not repaired, but are kept 
in their proud lacerations as precious relics. 

Army regulations for the year 1913 provided the following: 

" Whenever in the opinion of a commanding officer the 
condition of any silken color, standard, or guidon in the 
possession of his command has become unserviceable, a 
surveying officer will be appointed to report, for the in- 
formation of the Secretary of War, its condition and the 
necessity of supplying a new one. If requiring repair, 
application to have it placed in a serviceable condition 
should be made to the Chief of the Quartermaster Corps. 
Service colors and guidons will be submitted for the action 
of an inspector when unfit for further use. Upon receipt 
of new silken colors, standards, or guidons commanding 
officers will cause those replaced to be numbered and re- 
tained by the organization to which they belong as 
mementos of service, a synopsis of which, bearing the same 
number, will be filed with the records of the organization." 

15 



There is no official regulation for the repair or preservation 
of flags in the possession of civilians. It is true that any citizen 
may, if he or she choose, allow a flag to fly in tatters. Sometimes 
citizens declare that they will " keep the flag flying day and 
night " until some hoped for event comes to pass — as the termina- 
tion of a war. Of course it is patriotism that moves such a 
person, but frequently there is a great lack of good taste. A 
flag flying day and night without repair will soon be in tetters, 
and a tattered flag — except one rent in battle, is not an inspiring 
sight, but rather the contrary. 

Burn Old Flags That Cannot Be Repaired 

IT is unfortunately true that millions of flags, worn to tatters 
while flying over the private houses of citizens, especially in 
large cities, are finally taken down and thrown into a rag-bag, or 
used as rags for menial purposes in households, factories, garages, 
etc. It is a crying insult to the Flag to use the worn fabric for 
such purposes. From the earliest times, cremation — sacrificial 
burning, has been associated with noblest emotion. It is noble 
to cremate a flag that has passed out of usefulness as a physical 
emblem. It is recommended that when the ensign or standard 
flying over your house, or school, or other public building, has 
become so worn by wind and weather that it cannot be repaired, 
or has suffered some irreparable accident, then assemble with 
dignity around the precious remains, and with fitting ceremony 
consign the remnants to the flames. 

The following is suggested as a proper ceremonial form : 

Provide a new flag to take the place of the old. When the old 
flag is to be cremated, unfasten it from the halliards and fasten 
the new flag in its place. Then, immediately below the new flag, 
fasten the old ensign, and hoist the two together to the top of the 
flagstaff. Let both flags fly for a time. In case of a school, as- 
semble the pupils in the open, salute both flags, or sing the 
Anthem. Then lower both flags ; while the bugle or other instru- 
ment sounds " Retreat," unfasten the old — never letting it touch 
the earth, nor any floor. Immediately rehoist the new flag, and 
proceed with the cremation of the old ensign. 

16 



Navy Commission Pennant, recommended to be flown at night from civilian 
flag staffs in place of the standard. See page 23. 




Correct Manner of Civilian Hand Salute to the Flag. The man stands 
at attention, uncovers and holds his hat or cap pressed against his left 
shoulder. The woman salutes exactly as a man in uniform does. When 
parades are passing in the street, it is good taste for those standing upon 
the sidewalk to salute each regimental, battalion or company standard as 

it passes. 

17 



When and How to Salute the Flag 

ARMY regulations provide the following manner of the hand 
salute to the Flag or to a person: 

1. Raise the right hand smartly till the tip of the 
forefinger touches the lower part of the headdress 
or forehead above the right eye, thumb and fingers 
extended and joined, palm to the left, forearm in- 
clined at about 45 degrees, hand and wrist straight; 
at the same time look toward the person (or Flag) 
saluted. 

2. Drop the arm smartly to the side. 

This salute was primarily designed for soldiers in uniform or 
in civilian dress and uncovered. It is the best form that can be 
used by women in saluting the Flag when it is being borne past. 

But for military men in civilian dress, the following form is 
ordered by Army regulations in saluting the Flag: 

" If in civilian dress and covered, they (officers and men) 
will uncover, holding the headress opposite the left shoulder with 
the right hand: if uncovered, they will salute with the right hand 
salute." 

Obviously, male civilians should salute in the manner provided 
above. If they are wearing hats or caps, they should uncover ; if 
bareheaded, they should salute with the right hand. 

Neither soldiers nor civilians are expected to salute with the 
hand when carrying accoutrements held in hand. Regulations 
provide a special and different manner of hand salute for soldiers 
carrying a rifle. 

Colors are not saluted when they are being carried encased. 

When the Flag is waving from a stationary flagstaff or other 
pole — as at the top of a building or extending from a window, it is 
not saluted with the hand. On special occasions, while thus flying, 
may be given the vocal salute to the Flag, sometimes called " The 
Pledge to the Flag," which is described in another page under the 
heading " Raising a New Flag over a School House or other 
Public Building." 

18 



Daily Raising and Lowering the Flag 

AT all Army posts and camps, in time of peace, the Flag is 
raised at the bugle call " Reveille." This is a French word 
meaning literally, " awake." (The French spelling is " reveillez.") 
But it has come to mean more exactly, in the American army, the 
beginning of the day's work. Formerly the call Reveille did 
actually awaken the soldiers at sunrise but now a preliminary 
" First Call " is sounded about fifteen minutes before Reveille. 
At this First Call, all soldiers quickly get up and dress themselves. 
In the meantime, the Sergeant of the Guard and two men, take the 
Flag from the Guard House where it was placed the evening 
before, carry it to the flagstaff, fasten it to the halliards, and 
stand ready to raise it. The bugler also stands ready near the 
colors, awaiting the command from the officer. When the com- 
mand is given, the bugle sounds the call and the Sergeant raises 
the Flag. At the first note of the bugle call, every person in the 
garrison or camp instantly comes to the position " attention " 
and " salute," facing toward the Flag, and remains in that posi- 
tion until the entire call is ended. 

Theoretically, in the army, the Flag flies from sunrise until 
sunset. But actually, in summer, Reveille is sounded after sun- 
rise, and in winter it may be sounded before sunrise. 

At sunset, a detail of three — the sergeant and two men, lowers 
the Flag to the sound of the bugle call " Retreat " and all persons 
in the garrison stand facing the colors and in the position of 
" salute " as in the morning. 

In the Navy, the Flag is raised at 8 o'clock in the morning. 
A few minutes before 8 o'clock, the signal quartermaster takes the 
Flag from the chart room of the ship, and with one assistant, 
carries it to the " poop " deck and " bends " it to the halliards. 
Also the bugler stands ready, or, in flagships (ships with an ad- 
miral on board) that have a band, the band assembles on the 
quarterdeck. At exactly 8 o'clock, the officer of the deck gives 
the command to a messenger — " Strike eight bells ! " The bell 
rings four double strokes, and at the last stroke, the band — when 
there is a band, plays " The Star Spangled Banner " and the 
signal quartermaster raises the Flag to the " peak," or to the 
top of the staff if there be no " gaff " on the ship. All persons 

19 



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20 



on deck stand at attention and " salute " while the Anthem is be- 
ing played once. If there be no band, the bugler sounds the call 
" Colors " while the Flag is raised and all persons on deck 
" salute " until the bugle call is ended. 

At sundown, the signal quartermaster lowers the Flag, while 
the band plays the Anthem, or the btigler sounds " Retreat," and 
all persons on deck " salute " as in the morning. 

It is a tradition in both Army and Navy, handed down since 
early Colonial times, that the Flag, when lowered, must not touch 
the earth in camp or garrison, nor the reef of barracks or armory, 
nor the deck of a ship. With careful etiquette, the assistants to 
the sergeant and quartermaster receive the folds of the Flag in 
the arms as it comes down, and thus tenderly fold it and carry it 
to its resting place for the night. 

Of course the Flag is not lowered at sundown when battle is 
raging, for to lower it at such time would manifestly be a signal of 
surrender. Especially is this true of warships. Paul Jones kept 
the Flag of the Bon Homme Richard flying all through the battle 
in the North Sea by the light of the moon. The Flag was kept 
flying over Fort McHenry at Baltimore in 1814 all night during 
the bombardment, the rockets and bursting bombs throwing 
flashes of light on it at intervals, and so inspiring Francis Scott 
Key to write " The Star Spangled Banner." 

There is no law nor authoritative ruling which compels civil- 
ians to lower the Flag at sundown, in time of war or peace. But 
good taste should impel every citizen to follow, so far as practica- 
ble, the traditions of the Army and Navy in the sundown cere- 
monial. Primarily, the Flag is raised that it may be seen. When 
it cannot be seen, it loses the chief concrete part of its mission. 
Centuries old tradition associate the waving standard with sun- 
light. Secondarily, the Flag is something to be guarded, treas- 
ured, and so tradition holds that it shall not be menaced by hor- 
rors of darkness. This is the artistic conception, and its beauty 
appeals to all imaginative people. This artistic tradition holds 
that the Flag does not guard us, but we guard the Flag. This 
tradition is violated when the Flag is left alone, out in the dark- 
ness, out in storm, while we are comfortably housed and cannot 
see whether or not the Flag be destroyed by some dark enemy. In 

21 



short, to leave the Flag out at night unattended, is a proof of 
shiftlessness, or at least carelessness, and so is an offense against 
the beautiful emblem. A new and beautiful practice is to fly the 
Flag at night with a strong reflected electric light upon it so 
that it may be clearly seen from a distance. 

It is impossible, or very inconvenient for civilians to follow 
exactly the regulations of the Army and Navy for raising and 
lowering the flag. In large cities, flags are displayed from office 
and factory buildings which are unoccupied at sunrise and sunset, 
and on holidays. The following rules, prepared for The Ameri- 
can Penman to govern the display of the Flag from a window of 
its offices, were designed to cover especially all displaying of the 
Flag, during war time, by business houses : 

Flag shall be raised at 8 A.M. (Navy style). 

Flag shall be lowered at 5:45 P.M. (when the office 
force leaves building) or at sundown. When the Flag 
is lowered, the Navy " commission " pennant shall be 
run up in its place, to fly at night, and until the ensign 
shall again be hoisted, when the pennant shall be taken 
down. The pennant shall fly at all times, day and night, 
when it is impossible for the custodian or his aids to be 
in the building and raise or lower the ensign. 

The Flag shall not be allowed to fly in a torn, or 
whipped out condition. It shall be repaired with needle 
and thread. When the Flag is frayed out, torn or soiled 
by discoloration beyond repair, it shall be retired and a 
new Flag substituted. 

The old Flag shall be burned in solemn ceremonial. 

For Several hundred years, the " commission " pennant has 
been flown from the top of a mast of all warships to indicate that 
the ship flying it is actually in " commission " — that is to say in 
service, with a commanding officer and crew on board. When the 
ship goes out of " commission " — is retired, the " commission " 
pennant is hauled down. This pennant flies day and night. 

The " commission " pennant flying from the flagstaff of an 
office building, or school house, or other public building, or from 
the flagstaff of any private house, would indicate that the building 

22 



and its owners or occupants are " in service " and that the ensign 
will be hoisted as soon as it is practicable — in the morning, or 
on the day after a holiday — if it be impossible to hoist the Flag 
on that holiday. 

For school houses and other buildings above named, the pen- 
nant should be six feet in length. The width of the casing or 
flagstaff end should be four inches. The pennant should taper 
through all its length to the tail, which should be about an inch 
in width. 

A pennant can easily be made by anyone who can ply the 
needle or run a sewing machine. The illustration shows the 
design. The widest section, nearest the staff, is of blue bunt- 
ing — or even cotton fabric may be used. This section is one third 
the length of the pennant ; upon it are sewed thirteen white stars 
in a row, along its middle length. The other two thirds of the 
length are bisected lengthwise, red and white, and sewed to the 
blue. A piece of canvas or other stiff cloth should be bound to the 
staff end and in this two eyelets for the halliards should be made. 
Or a single eyelet may be made at the center of the four inch 
width ; when this is done, the pennant will fly and turn partly as on 
a swivel. 

Raising a New Flag Over School and Other Public 

Buildings 

THE formal raising of the flag over a school building, or other 
community building, gives opportunity- for beautiful and 
impressive ceremonies. There is no government authorized regula- 
tion for such a ceremonial, nor is there yet a standard form 
authorized by any national body of educators. However, there 
are certain well recognized elements of good taste that properly 
belong in every flag raising. 

Here follows a reproduction — much reduced in size — of a 
program for a flag raising at the largest high school in New York. 
Mrs. John Purroy Mitchel, wife of the Mayor of New York, of- 
ficiated and personally raised the flag. This program was printed 
as a four-page folder — size of pages 7% inches by 5% inches. 
It will be noted that the chairman of the auditorium meeting was 
presented by " Bertha Rodetsky and Miriam Diehl " — two girls 

23 



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selected from the pupils. Miss Rodetsky was president of the 
pupil body. This program is offered here only as suggestive. In 
the absence of rigid authority, each school principal or chairman 
of the committee on Flag raising, will follow his or her own taste 
in details of the ceremonial. 

To approximate military regulations, the distinct act of rais- 
ing should accord with following procedure: 

Bugler sounds " Colors." At the first note, the halliards 
should be drawn slowly and the flag raised slowly while all present 
bring their right hands to the position of regulation " Salute," 
and silently keep that position until the Flag pauses, some 15 feet 
above the heads of the assemblage. Then all right arms are ex- 
tended full length toward the Flag, and, in this position, the 
Salute to the Flag (often called the " Pledge ") is given aloud in 
unison. The words are as follows : 

I pledge allegiance to my Flag 

And to the Republic for which it stands, 

One Nation — indivisible — 

With Liberty and Justice for All. 

The photograph following showing the act of giving the Pledge 
by 4,000 pupils of Washington Irving School, was taken at the 
first flag raising of the new school, when the wife of Mayor Gaynor 
officiated. On this occasion, the Pledge was chanted to music 
composed by one of the teachers. The Pledge given in this man- 
ner is truly a thrilling and inspiring act. 

After the Pledge, the Star Spangled Banner is sung — one or 
two stanzas, and during the singing the Flag is slowly hoisted to 
the top of the flagstaff. 

The " Salute of Thirteen Guns " — which ended the program 
as shown above, was given in the following manner: 

A bass drum had been provided. A pupil or teacher struck 
once, and instantly after the entire assemblage cried strongly in 
unison, the word " Boom ! " Again the drum sounded, and again, 
" Boom ! " and so on thirteen times. About four seconds elapsed 
between the " Booms." The effect was vividly suggestive of the 
firing of a salute by cannon. In cannon salutes there is an echo- 
ing reverberation, making the sound like — " Boom — Boom ! " 

25 




26 



When the Warship Flies the Ensign 

WHEN the warship has passed out of harbor to sea, the 
ensign is hauled down, because the wind would soon beat 
it to tatters. It is run up temporarily when another ship comes 
in sight — except, of course, when the commander has reason to 
conceal his ship's identity. The ensign is hoisted again when 
the ship approaches the port to which it is bound, or while passing 
along a coast from which it may be seen. 

One of the seven largest size ensigns — and usually one of the 
three largest — is flown from the ship when lying at anchor in port, 
or tied to a wharf, except, of course, in stormy weather when the 
storm flag is run up. When the ship gets under way bound on a 
voyage, the large ensign is lowered and in its place is run up the 
" steaming colors," which is identical with the storm flag — the 
size, 5 ft. hoist and 9.5 ft. fly. This is the size always used at 
sea whenever it is desirable to hoist the colors. 

Position of the Blue Field When the Flag Is Displayed 
Without a Flagstaff 

THE United States Flag, and the Flag of each other nation, 
was first of all intended to be flown, its folds to be given 
to the sunlight and the breeze of Heaven. No national flag was, 
at its birth, intended to be used as an indoors banner, nor to 
" decorate " rooms, houses, altars, pulpits, or other structures. 
However, there has crept in the custom of displaying the Flag 
flat against a wall, or window, or bulkhead, or other flat front. 
In cities, many people find it impossible or inconvenient to pro- 
vide a flagstaff, and so they stretch the Flag across the window, 
or across the front of the house, the stripes running horizontally 
or perpendicularly. In cities, also, they often fly the Flag from 
y horizontal lines high across the street. 

There is widespread confusion as to how the union should 
be placed when the Flag is displayed against a window, wall, or as 
a decoration inside. No national authority has yet ordained 
unquestioned regulations for this sort of Flag display. Here fol- 
low three different opinions, expressing the taste of the Army, 
the Navy, and the profession of Art: 

27 



Adjutant of the U. S. Army Department of the East: 

" Except when the Flag is flying from a staff there is 
no prescribed order about the manner in which a flag 
should be hung. Custom decrees, however, that when the 
Flag is shown horizontally, the blue field should be at the 
upper corner to the left of a person facing the Flag. 
When hung vertically, the blue field should be at right of 
a person facing the Flag." 

Frederick Wellington Ruckstuhl, noted sculptor and editor of 
The Art World, a leading art periodical in the United States : 

" We usually look at things from left to right. We 
begin to read a book, newspaper, a page, from left to 
right. To give the psychological reasons for this would 
take too long. 

" Suffice to say the natural way to place a flag in a 
book in order to show its character, is to place it with the 
blue field in the upper left hand corner. 

" Therefore, when used to drape a pulpit or altar it 
should be used in one of three ways : 

" First, use a flag that will cover the width of the pul- 
pit or altar, the stripes running horizontally, the blue 
field in the upper corner to the left of the persons facing it. 

" Second, use two flags, bringing both blue fields to- 
gether in the center, the stripes horizontal. 

" Third, use a flag the length of the pulpit and no 
wider than its depth, have the stripes perpendicular, with 
the blue field in the upper corner to the left of the persons 
facing it. 

" From the standpoint of ' action in repose,' one of 
the most important things in successful art, these three 
ways will be found the most satisfactory, I think, and I 
believe that actual experiment will prove this opinion to 
be correct." 

Commander Charles Albert Adams, U. S. Navy. Graduated 
from Annapolis, in 1868. Served forty years. Retired in 1908. 
Re-entered active service in 1917 as Navy recruiting officer at. 
New York: 

28 



" When the Flag is displayed as a decoration, or flat 
against a window, wall or bulkhead, with stripes horizontal 
or perpendicular, in streets running East and West, the 
union should be at the top and East: in streets running 
North and South, the union should be at the top and 
North. In streets running to intermediate points of the 
compass, the rule is to hold the union to the North for all 
streets between North and Northeast, or North and North- 
west, and to the East for all streets between Northeast 
and East or Northwest and West. The same rule should 
be observed when the Flag is suspended flying from a hori- 
zontal line across and above the street." 

For all practical purposes, the Navy custom, as expressed by 
Commander Adams, seems the most convincing of the three opin- 
ions quoted above. Of course, it is an arbitrary ruling. But 
sailors are prone to decide all things, if possible, by referring to 
the mariners' compass, and the chief point in the compass is 
North. Some might say there is no more reason for putting the 
union to the East than to put it to the West. Still, it is not 
denied that the people of Europe and America, for a reason tinged p 
somewhat with mysticism, do bend their vision Eastward rather 
than Westward. For centuries, it has been the custom in Europe 
to build churches with the high altar at the East when possible. 
When so placed, the altar is flooded with the effulgence of the 
morning sun. So, too, the eyes of the masses of the Christian na- 
tions of Western Europe have been turned eastward toward Jeru- 
salem, and this is true of America. It is true also of the Jewish 
race in all these nations. The East is the seat of honor and wis- 
dom in the Masonic fraternity and all its kindred associations. Be- 
sides all these concrete precedents, human nature bends instinc- 
tively toward the rising sun, rather than toward the setting sun. 
Thus, it would seem that a right impulse would place the union in 
the Flag to the East. 

Prior to the discovery of the magnetic needle, the warm senti- 
mentalism of the peoples along the shores of the Mediterranean 
— who then constituted nearly all of the civilized world, was not 
directed Northward, because the North was the land of the bar- 
barians, the " land of darkness." This tradition is still kept up 

29 



symbolically by the Masonic fraternity, but nevertheless it is the 
North Star that holds longest and steadiest the eyes of the world, 
when the starry firmament is shown. 

Mr. RuckstuhPs suggestion that two flags be used in draping 
a pulpit, or altar, will appeal to all who have a correct instinct 
for art form. 

Desecration of the Flag 

ON April 9, 1917, the Department of Justice at Washington 
issued the following: 

Any alien enemy tearing down, mutilating, abusing 
or desecrating the United States Flag in any way will 
be regarded as a danger to the public peace or safety 
within the meaning of Regulation 12 of the proclama- 
tion of the President issued April 6, 1917, and will 
be subject to summary arrest and confinement. 

All Federal attorneys and marshals were especially instructed 
to enforce the provisions of the order. 

It will be noted that this is an executive order directed to 
" any alien enemy." Lawyers differ in opinion as to whether it 
would apply to citizens of the United States. At the time this 
order was issued, there was no Federal law defining the proper 
and improper use of the Flag, excepting the Congress statute of 
1913 which provides that no trade mark shall be registered by 
the Government which " consists of or comprises the flag or coat- 
of-arms or other insignia of the United States or any simulation 
thereof." This statute is commonly referred to as one that for- 
bids the use of the Flag for advertising purposes. It is easily 
seen that it does not forbid the use of the Flag in many forms of 
advertising. However, most of the States have enacted statutes, 
more or less stringent, specifically forbidding the use for " adver- 
tising," and providing penalties for " desecration." At the begin- 
ning of the war with Germany, there was no Federal law, nor 
any law in the States of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 
North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas, specifically pro- 
viding a punishment for any citizen who would insult the Flag — 
drag it in the mud, mutilate it. 

Nevertheless, the common law, and ordinary police statutes 

30 



would probably suffice to punish such an offender against public 
decency and order, for such a person could easily be proved a 
disorderly person, liable to incite others to disorder and endanger 
the happiness and safety of the masses of orderly citizens. 

The Flag Used as a Decoration 

PROBABLY there will always be wide difference of opinion, 
among even the most intelligent and cultured, as to whether 
the Flag may be rightly used as a " decoration." Military eti- 
quette has always opposed such use, but devotees of Art have 
strenuously contended that such use is beautiful and uplifting? 
Though the professional artists and others of artistic tempera- 
ment admit that the colors red, white and blue, arranged without 
the form of the Flag, may arouse patriotic emotion, they hold that 
it is the Flag itself which arouses highest emotion, whether flying 
from a staff or draped as a decoration. 

Public taste, in this time, does allow the Flag to be used as a 
decoration. But some limitations, impelled by good taste, are 
generally recognized. For instance : 

It should not be used to cover the top of a table. Here it 
may be said that old custom in Army and Navy ordains that it 
shall never be washed. Theoretically, it is always pure and clean. 

No object should rest upon it. The Bible has long been ex- 
cepted from this rule. 

It may be used to cover a casket of the dead. In this use, the 
Union should be at the head. 

In general, it must be kept free from association with menial 
thought and practice. It is a symbol closely related to religion, 
and lifts up from the heart an emotion of and from the Divine. 



31 



THE AMERICAN FLAG 

By JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE 



When freedom from her mountain height 

Unfurled her standard to the air. 
She tore the azure robe of night, 

And set the stars of glory there; 
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes 
The milky baldric of the skies, 
And striped its pure, celestial white 
With streakings of the morning light; 
Then from his mansion in the sun 
She called her eagle bearer down, 
And gave into his mighty hand 
The symbol of her chosen band. 

Majestic monarch of the cloud ! 

Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, 
To hear the tempest-trumpings loud, 
And see the lightning lances driven, 

When strive the warriors of the storm, 
And rolls the thunder drums of heaven — 
Child of the sun! to thee 't is given 

To guard the banner of the free, 
To hover in the sulphur smoke, 
To ward away the battle stroke 
And bid its Mendings shine afar, 
Like rainbows on the cloud of war, 

The harbingers of victory! 

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly, 
The sign of hope and triumph high, 

When speaks the signal trumpet tone, 
And the long line comes gleaming on; 

Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet, 



Has dimmed the glistening bayonet, 
Each soldier eye shall brightly turn 

To where thy sky born glories burn, 
And, as his springing steps advance, 
Catch war and vengeance from the glance, 
And when the cannon mouthings loud 

Heave in wild wreathes the battle shroud, 
And gory sabres rise and fall, 
Like sheets of flame on midnight's pall, 

Then shall thy meteor-glances glow, 
And cowering foes shall sink beneath 

Each gallant arm that strikes below 
That lovely messenger of death. 

Flag of the seas! on ocean wave, 

Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave; 
When death, careening on the gale, 

Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail, 
And frighted waves rush wildly back 

Before the broadside's reeling rack, 
Each dying wanderer of the sea 

Shall look at once to heaven and thee, 
And smile to see thy splendors fly 
In triumph o'er his closing eye. 

Flag of the free heart's hope and home, 

By angel hands to valor given; 
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, 

And all thy hues were born in heaven. 
For ever float that standard sheet! 

Where breathes the foe but falls before us, 
With freedom's soil beneath our feet, 

And freedom's banner streaming o'er us! 



32 



GREATEST AMERICAN ANNIVERSARIES 



January 

7 (1789) First National Election. 

14 (1639) Adoption of the first written con- 

stitution known to history— at Hartford, 

Conn. 
17 Birthday of Benjamin Franklin, born in 

1706, died in 1790. 
19 Birthday of Robert E. Lee, born in 1807, 

died in 1870. 

February 
12 Birthday of Abraham Lincoln, born in 1809, 
died in 1865. 

15 (1898) Sinking of the battleship "Maine." 
22 Birthday of George Washington, born in 

1732, died in 1799. 

March 

2 (1820) Missouri Compromise Act passed. 
5 (1770) Boston Massacre. 

9 (1862) Battle of "Monitor" and ^'Merri- 

mac." 
15 Birthday of Andrew Jackson, born in 1767, 
died in 1845. 

April 

2 Birthday of Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743, 

died in 1826. 
9 (1865) Surrender at Appomattox. 
12 (1865) Bombardment of Fort Sumter. 
14 (1865) Assassination of President Lincoln. 
19 (1775) Battle of Lexington. 
27 Birthday of Ulysses S. Grant, born in 1822, 

died in 1885. 

May 

1 (1898) Battle of Manila Bay. 

10 (1775) Opening of the Second Continental 

Congress. 
30 Memorial Day in all States and Territories 
except North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
Louisiana and Texas. These States cele- 
brate "Confederate Memorial Day" on 
other dates. 

June 

3 Birthday of Jefferson Davis, born in 1808, 

died in 1889. 
14 (1777) Adoption of the Stars and Stripes as 

the National Flag. 
17 1775) Battle of Bunker Hill 



July 

1, 2 and 3 (1863) Battle of Gettysburg. 

3 (1898) Naval Battle of Santiago. 

4 (1776) Declaration of ^dependence. 

21 (1861) Battle of Bull Run. 

August 

7 (1807) First voyage of the "Clermont," the 
first successful steamboat in the world, 
from New York to Albany. 

22 (1851) Winning of the "Squadron Cup" 

(now called the "America Cup") by the 
yacht "America," in. the waters around 
the Isle of Wight, England. 

September 
First Monday— Labor Day. 

5 (1774) Meeting of the First Continental 

Congress. 

10 (1813) Battle of Lake Erie. 

11 (1814) Battle of Lake Champlain. 

14 (1814) The "Star Spangled Banner" written 

at Baltimore by Francis Scott Key. 
22 (1862) President Lincoln issued the, negro 

Emancipation Proclamation. 
17 (1796) Washington issued his Farewell 

Address to the people of the United 

States. 

October 

2 (1777) Battle of Bemis Heights, which com- 
pelled the surrender of General Bur- 
goyne's army at Saratoga. 

12 (1492) Discovery of America. 

17 (1777) Surrender at Saratoga. British 
writers call the event the "Convention of 
Saratoga." 

19 (1781) Surrender of Cornwallis at York- 
town. 

November 

19 (1863) President Lincoln delivered his ad 

dress at the Gettysburg cemetery. 
Last Thursday— Thanksgiving Day. 

December 

16 (1773) Boston Tea Party. 

22 (1620) Landing of the Pilgrims at Ply- 
mouth. Celebrated as "Forefathers' 
Day." 



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